There are opportunities for livestock producers in the carbon market. However, cattle’s place in that market is still unknown. “We haven’t heard a lot about it, so right now it is just potential opportunities,” says David Ripplinger, bioproducts and bioenergy economics specialist, NDSU Extension.”It seems really likely that in short order there will be the same opportunities for beef producers as crop producers have now.” The dairy and hog industries have implemented digesters to produce natural gas, which has a negative carbon footprint. Those market opportunities could be extended to beef operations set up to collect the manure in a clean fashion. “Grazing is a huge potential opportunity which still requires some degree of development in terms of the commitment by ranchers to certain practices and the payment received. We do know, however, that certain grazing practices capture more carbon in the soil.” Hear more in this interview with Ripplinger.